Associate Spotlight – Rachel Hays
What’s your favorite part of your role at NBC, and what keeps you motivated day to day? I really enjoy the constant teamwork in my role. Whether it’s the commercial loan processing team working together to answer questions, working through files and finding new efficiencies, training associates to help them learn the role, or working with the commercial bankers to get loans processed and booked, we’re always working together toward a common goal. I also love the constant change and evolution of what we do here. There isn’t really any part of my job that I don’t like, and that makes it easy to stay motivated.
What’s a memorable moment or accomplishment from your time at NBC that stands out to you? The accomplishment that stands out most to me isn’t one specific project, but the opportunity I’ve had to influence positive change within my department. Throughout my time at NBC, I’ve been able to share ideas, challenge existing processes, and help implement improvements that make our work more efficient and enhance the customer experience.
What’s something your coworkers might be surprised to learn about you? I really enjoy cooking new meals at home. I spend time every week looking through Pinterest for new recipes and ideas for meal prep that I can do the following week. We don’t have the same things very often at my house. Sometimes everyone loves whatever I’ve found, and sometimes we end up eating sandwiches instead, but I enjoy the adventure of it.
When you’re not at work, how do you like to spend your time? Any hobbies or routines you love? When I’m not at work, I spend most of my time chasing my kids around. I have an 11‑year‑old and a 7‑year‑old, both boys. From basketball to Scouts to school events and other fun family activities, they keep me busy. When I have time just for myself, I like to run. A solid couple of miles helps me clear my head and decompress.
What’s one thing you’ve learned in your career that you think everyone should know? The best career advice is often less about working harder and more about being intentional. Every small decision you make in a day contributes to bigger achievements and helps you reach your goals. If you have a dream for what you want your future to be, the best thing you can do is build yourself up on all the little things you’ve already done. Be dependable. Be a problem solver. Be a team player. Find opportunities for innovation and take ownership of your work. Every small decision or accomplishment helps build the foundation of the career you will have. Take pride in everything that you do, no matter how big or small.